Al,
To date, every effort to find organic compounds on the surface of Mars has failed. It failed with Viking. It failed with Sojourner/Pathfinder. It failed with TES/MGS.
Given what we now know about the atmosphere and surface chemistry, it is extremely unlikely that Mr. Levin's Viking experiment detected life.
The surface of Mars is a bleached and freeze-dried sterile landscape. Its geochemistry is incompatible with the biochemistry of life.
What may be possible is that we find microbial life under the surface, or perhaps is rare, well-protected micro-climates. But, the evidence is now 99.9% certain, Mr. Levin didn't find life on Mars.
With regards to life in extreme environments here on earth, keep in mind that these environments are connected, if remotely, to an active and productive biosphere with about four million times more chemical energy available. The are part of a large and active ecosystem that does not exist on Mars.
Donald
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Re: Actually...
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